Crate



Nov. 13, 1934.

E. D. CAMERON CRATE Filed April 10, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z, Jnnentor(Zttornegs,

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES CRATE Evan Dhu Cameron, Paris,Tex., assignor of onehalf to Paul Cameron, Paris, Tex.

Application April 10, 1933, Serial No. 665,455

2 Claims.

This invention relates to crates of the knockdown type, designedprimarily for use in shipping or transporting baby chicks, dressedpoultry, fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs or other dry merchandise.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a crate of thischaracter which may be readily and easily knocked down and packed insuch a Way that comparatively little space will be required in shippingor returning the crates to the produce shipper, thereby reducing thecost of returning the empty crates, to a minimum.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a crateincluding a body portion formed of spaced slats, and end members formedwith grooves for the reception of the ends of the slats, therebysecurely holding the slats in their active positions, when the crate isset up for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crate having means topermit the contents of the crate to be conveniently displayed, withoutthe necessity of removing the contents of the crate.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made Within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a crate constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through the head of the crate.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the crate.

Figure 4 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating the brace bar ofthe head in use as a support for the upper end of the crate when thecrate is used for display purposes.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a plurality of crates packed for returnshipment.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the crate includes a disk-likebottom 5, and a disk-like top or head 6, the bottom 5 being providedwith an annular groove 7, formed in the upper surface thereof, thegroove 7 being spaced a short distance from the periphery of the bottom.

The lower surface of the head or top 6, is also formed with an annulargroove spaced from the edge thereof, the grooves of the head and bottombeing so constructed that-they will accommodate the ends of the bodyportion, indicated by the reference character 8. I

This body portion 8, is constructed of a plurality of slats 9 to whichthe metallic strips 10 are connected, the strips being arranged near theends of the slats 9, to hold the slats in proper spaced relation withrespect to each other, but at the same time permit of flexing of thebody portion, so that the body portion may be laid fiat, when in aknock-down condition, to facilitate the transportation of the crate, forreturn to the original shipper.

As clearly shown by the drawings, the ends of the slats 9 are tapered,so that they will fit snugly Within the annular grooves of the bottomand head.

In the formation of a crate, the ends of the body portion are broughttogether, and secured by means of loop members indicated by thereference character 11, which loop members are slid over the upper andlower ends of the adjacent end slats of the body portion. These loopmembers are of lengths so that the end slats of the body portion will besupported in spaced relation with each other.

Secured to the top or head 6, is a brace bar 12, which is formed withgrooves 13, disposed near its ends. A brace bar indicated at 14 issecured to the bottom 5, firmly bracing the bottom so that it willwithstand the strain directed to the crate, when being lifted,

The bottom 5, head 6 and brace bar, are formed with openings throughwhich the rod 15 extends, the rod being provided with a head at itslower end, and a threaded portion 16 at its upper end, the threadedportion of the rod accommodating the nut 17, that draws the bottom andhead into close engagement with the ends of the body portion of thecrate. 95

From the foregoing it will be seen that should it be desired to displaythe contents of the crate, the brace bar carried by the head 6 of thecrate, may be disconnected from the head, and the head temporarilydiscarded.

The brace bar may now be positioned across the open end of the crate,holding the crate in its extended position, and at the same timepermitting the contents of the crate to be readily viewed.

A handle such as shown at 18, may be connected with the brace barcarried by the head, to insure the convenient handling of the crate.

The crate as shown and described, is used primarily for shipping fruits,vegetables or other dry stacked on the heads and bottoms, and the con-,

necting rods of the crates, extended through the openings in the headsand bottoms, and between slats of the body portion, securing severalcrates in a pile which will require approximately the same space inshipping, as would be required in shipping three or four crates in theirassembled top and positioned over one end of the crate and positions. 7

Owing to the fact that the grooves in the bottom' and head of a crate,are spaced from the edges of the bottom and head, the bottom and headprovide supports for the crate, when the crate is positioned onits side,to the end that the crates may be readily rolled, and handled withfacility.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a shipping crate, a body portion including a plurality of slatsheld together in circular formation, a bottom member and a top member,the top member including a removable transverse bar having grooves inwhich the ends of certain of the slats are held, securing the bodyportion in its circular formation when the stop is removed and exposingthe contents of the crate, and a handle secured to the transverse bar.

i 2. In a shipping crate, a body portion including a plurality of spacedslats held together in and said grooves adapted to receive the upperends of certain of the slats when the removable bar is disconnected fromthe said bar adapted to hold the crate against collapsing, when the tophas been removed, and a handle connected with the removable member.-

EVAN DHU CAMERON,;

circular formation, a bottom member and a top member, a removable barhaving grooves form- .ing a part of the top,

